Machine for bulging cylindrical sheet-metal bodies.



' c. A. HUPFORD. 5 MACHINE POR BULGING CYLINDRICAL SHEET METAL BODIES*lAPPLICATION FILED J'UNE12, 1912.

I Patented July 8, 1913.

HIII

j Il

C. A. HUFEORD. MACHINE PO'R- BULGING GYLINDRIGAL SHEET METAL BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912,.

L06?, 1 1 5. Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES A. HUFFORD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MACHINE FCR BULGING CYLINDRICAL SHEET-METAL BODIES.

Specification of Letters Paten-t.

Patented July S, 1913.

Application filed June 12, 1912.` Serial No."?03,323.

To all iii/tom 25' may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES A. l-lUrronn,

a citizen ot the United. States, residing at Indianapolis, in thecount-y of Marion and State otI Indiana, have invented certain new anduset'ul improvements in Machines tor Bulging Cylindrical Sheet-lvlctalBodies; and l do declare the following to be a full7 clear, and exactdescription ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theartto which it appertains to make and use the same7 reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the ligures of reterence markedthereon, which form a part ot this specitication.

This invention rela-tes to improvements in machines for bulgingcylindrical sheet metal bodies into convex form, as in the production ofsheet metal barrels or kindred articles ot manufacture.

The object ot the invention is to provide a machine which issubstantially positive in its action, and by means of which theoperation stated may be performed quickly and with t'acility andaccuracy.

An embodiment ot the invention is illustrated in the accompanying`drawings wherein Figure l is a central longitudinal section showing theparts ot the machine prior tol an operation thereof; Fig. 2 is a similarview but showing the machinev inl operation; Fig. 3 is an end elevationof one ot the sectional. dies or forming units; Fig. 4l is a developedplan view showing the relations ot the die sections to one another whenthe die is collapsed; F ig. 5 is a similar view but showing the relationot" the die sections to one another when the die is expanded.

Similar characters ot reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The operating parts may be supported from a bed l. In the embodimentshown the machine includes a pair of opposed sectional dier'. designatedgenerally by the numeral 2 and simultaneously movable toward and awayfrom one another. Means tor operating the dies are provided at each endoi the bed. As shown, the die operating means include cylinders 3 andpistons l working therein and actuated hydraulically.

Each die 2 comprises die sections 5 ol suitable outline which arearranged in an annular iath. Said die sections are provided withoutwardly directed extensions 7 which are pivoted in slotted ears 7disposed radially upon a head 8. The pistons d are mounted on rods 9which pass loosely through central openings in the heads S and serve,through intermediate connect-ions to e'i't'ect axial and pivotalmovements ot the die sections and thereby to move the `dies into andt'rom their operative 'positions and, at the same time to expand andcollapse them. The intermediate connections 'between the rods 9 and thedie sections .may advantageously include sleeves l() which are mountedloosely on the rods S), between collars l1 and ll"L tast on said rods,and links l2 which connect each sleeve l0 and the die sections to beoperated thereby.

` ln order to maintain the dies in normally collapsed relation and atthe same time to cause the dies to move with the rods when the lattermove inwardly, expansive coil springs 13 surround the rods 9 and arearranged between the outer faces ot the heads 8 and collars 14 adjacentsaid heads and tast on the respective rods 9.

y Thi arjfcuracy ot the operation ot the dies insured by positivelycentering and guiding the rods 9 and for this purpose, suitable bearingsl5, upstandingfrom the bed l, may be provided. It is also preferred,toward the same end, to provide one ot the rods 9 with a reduced axialextension 1G and the other rod with a slot or opening 17 to recoive saidextension`v during the movements ot' the rods to expand the dies.

The cylinder to be shaped is `placed be tween the dies, it being assumedthat the latter are retracted as tar as possible from one another andthat their die sections are'in collapsed relation. Thereupon the diesare moved simultaneously and axially toward one another` ultimatelyvpassing through the ends Ot the cylinder. The axial movement of thedies is arrested by the engagement of `the heads S against the ends ofthe barrel but the axial movements ot the rods 9 continues against thetension ot the springs however, and until it is arrested by the en;gagelnent ot' the collars let against the heads S or by theengagement-ot said rods against one another. ln this last stage. ot'their-axial niovement the rods 9 are etliective, through the, agency otthe sleeves 10, the collars Ill in the r mr oit said sleeves, and thelinks 12, to move the die sections 5 outwardly on their pivots, therebyexpanding the dies 2 and causing the latter to bulge the barrel.

Thereupon the movements of the rods 9 are reversed, that is to say saidrods are simultaneously retracted; and during the first portion of suchretractile movements throughout which the springs 13 hold the heads 8against the ends of the barrel, the dies are collapsed, the necessarymovement of the sleeves 10 with the rods 9 being imparted by the collars11 which are immediately in advance of said sleeves. Thereafter, as theoutward movement of the rods 9 continues, the collars 11 engage theheads 8 and the dies are positively withdrawn from the barrel, as isobvious.

In order that the bulging or changing of the barrel body may be uniformthroughout the extent of said body, each die section 5 is preferablyprovided along its sides with teeth 1S which are constantly in mesh withthe teeth of the adjacent die sections, both in the collapsed andexpanded condition of the dies. .In this way continuous spaces betweenthe die sections, when the dies are expanded, are eliminated; and itfollows that the formation of flat longitudinal areas at intervalsthroughout the barrel body will be prevented and the barrel will beuniformly convex throughout its extent.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a machine of the typeset forth, a collapsible die including a head and die sections pivotedthereon, an axially movable rod, a yielding connection betw en the rodand the head, and positive connections between the rod and the diesections to canse movements of the latter on their pivots consequent tothe movements of the rod.

2. In a machine of the type set forth, a collapsible die including ahead, die sections pivoted thereon, an axially movable rod, an expansivecoil spring interposed between the head and the rod, and linkconnections interposed between the rod and the die sections to causemovements of the latter on their pivots consequent to movements of therod.

3. In a machine of the type set forth, a collapsible die including ahead, die sections pivoted thereon, an axially movable rod, an expansivecoil spring interposed between the head and the rod, a sleeve loose onthe rod, collars fast on the rod and between which the sleeve ismounted, and links connecting the collars and the die sections.

4. In machine of the type. set forth, a collapsible die including a headand die sections pivoted thereon, an axially movable their pivotsconsequent to movements of the rod.

6. In a machine of the type set forth, an expansible and collapsible dieincluding a plurality of die sections, annularly arranged and mountedfor radial movement, each die section having its sides formed with teethwhich constantly intermesh with the teeth of the adjacent die sections.

7. In a machine of the type set forth, a. pair of end opposed expansibleand collapsible dies, die operating means including axially movable rodsand connections between each rod and a corresponding die to produceaxial movements of Said dies and also expanding and collapsing movementsthereof.

8. In a machine of the type set forth, a pair ofend opposed expansibleand collapsible dies, die operating means including rods which aremovable axially and simultaneously in opposite directions, andconnections between each rod and a corresponding die to produce axialmovements of said dies and also expanding and collapsing movementsthereof.

9.l In a machine of the type set forth, an axially movable rod, a headhaving an opening through which the rod loosely passes,a plurality ofdie sections pivoted in the head for radial movement, and linkconnections between the rod and the die sections.

10. In a machine of the type set forth, an axially movable rod, a headhaving an opening through which the rod loosely passes, a plurality ofdie sections pivoted in the head for radial movement, link connectionsbetween the rod and the die sections, and a resilient connection betweenthe rod and the head.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. IIUFFORD. lllitnesses HENRY STELCK,

J. I-I. TRIMBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

